Gifts for 9-Year Old Boys

Sphero BOLT Robot This is the latest Sphero app-enabled robot. Isn’t it the coolest looking one yet? Learn to code through hands-on activities to program infarred, compass, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, and motor encoders. Drive BOLT and play games. 2+ hours of battery.

Nintendo Labo Get five different DIY toy and game projects like making a music simulator, a fishing game, or motorbike. This kit is meant to accompany Nintendo Switch. This kit makes technology hands-on & is very highly rated for 2018.

National Geographic Rock Tumbler Get your kids into geology! Start polishing your own gems with the included half lbs of gemstones, rock information, and jewelry fastenings.

Trash Pandas We’re big fans of Gamewright games like Rat-a-Tat-Cat and Sleeping Queens so I was thrilled to see this newest card game with charming raccoon characters tipping over trash cans and racing to amass the most points. You’re going to love this!

Anki Overdrive Fast and Furious Edition TECHWe LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our Anki Overdrive Fast & Furious. Like, my kids are addicted. They like how it’s super interactive with technology (their favorite). They love building and rebuilding the track and racing against each other, friends, dad, or the computer — both literally one of the most fun things they do every day! Download the free app which connects you to your race car. The magnetic track pieces easily fit together and you’ll have tons of possibilities for races and race tracks.

The Brick MatRoll this double sided mat onto your floor or table. One side is for larger bricks, the other for smaller. And, if you like this, you might want to check out the building block adhesive tape! FUN, right?!

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John, illustrated by Kevin Cornell If you like funny books, you’ll LOVE this series! In this first book, besides learning valuable cow trivia, it’s mostly the hilarious adventure of two pranksters who start out as rivals but eventually work together to pull off the biggest prank of all time — a prank that will ensure they get April Fool’s Day off from school. My kids think this series is the best!

Dr. Microbe Science Game Use your tweezers to grab the correct microbes and place them into the petri dish. Find the missing microbes by using research rules and logic. It’s a LOT of fun. Read just how much my kids loved this game here.

Just Joking Jumbo by National Geographic Kids Holy Smokes! Your kids will love this book. It’s packed full of awesome jokes and photographs; it’s hefty and impossible not to love. Fun facts added throughout make it extra interesting.

Q: What did the biologist give her friend with bad breath? A: Experi-mints. Funny, right? There’s 999 more goofy, silly, laugh out loud jokes, tongue twisters, puzzles, riddles plus fun facts about different creatures like Whiplash the Iguana and amazing photographs. It might take us a year to get through all these jokes but we’re up for the challenge. How about you? Would your family love this book? Knock, knock. Who’s there? Peas. Peas who? Pease be quiet.

LEGO Creator Skate HouseBuild a cool skate house with skateboard, scooter, skate ramp, monkey bars, and a climbing wall. The best part of this kit — you can make three different buildings!! It can also be a Games Arcade with game room machines and a toy Skate Park.

Cozmo Code your own personality-filled robot, play games, and explore Cozmo’s world. Sure to become a favorite toy for your young STEM learners.

Percy Jackson and the Olympiansby Rick Riordan FANTASY (series) ages 8 – 12 This series is amazing! Greek gods still exist and so do their kids, half-bloods, or demigods, who have incredible abilities. Unfortunately for these kids, monsters are out to kill them. But, they are also the only ones who can save the world from war between the Greek gods the original gods, the Titans. Percy goes to Camp Half-Blood where he gets trained to protect himself… until he’s sent on a dangerous quest. BOX SET HERE.

The Land of Storiesby Chris Colfer Fairy tales come alive when Alex and Conner (brother and sister) find themselves in the fairy tale book given to them by their grandmother. In the first story, their only way out of the Fairy Tale world is to find the ingredients for a Wishing Spell. Finding them will be dangerous, mysterious, and life changing. Get ready for non-stop adventure and magical imaginative worlds. BOX SET

Unlock the secrets of the secret chambers, discover jewels and a mummy. Watch out for the booby trap!

Big Nate Welcome to My Worldby Lincoln Peirce Lincoln Peirce “gets” kids and their struggles. Nate’s real life adventures will keep your kids laughing out loud from the first page to the last. These are really great for reluctant readers. Boxed set here.

SquishiesSqueeze and watch as the toys slowly go from squished to full size. Kids love the tactile fun of these.

The Familiars series by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson My kids and I are big fans of this series. Do you know about familiars? They are the magical animal companions to wizards. And in this first story, they’ll have to save the world when the wizard’s powers are taken away. The Familiars is great series for kids who love animals and magical adventures.

Rush Hour My kids play this so much, they’ve mastered all the levels. It’s a cool logic and strategy game for one-person that we are addicted to playing.

Thames and Kosmos Remote-Control Machines Build your own motorized vehicles and machines (bulldozer, antique car, race car, robotic arm +) using this kit that includes 3 motors, a remote control, and directions for up to 10 models.

Beasts of BalanceStack physical blocks near your mobile device in this hybrid digital tabletop game. Pick a beast, element, action, or miracle to stack. Your goal is to work with other players to build a tower as well as filling your world with magnificent beasts.

LEGO NEXO Knights Axl’s Tower Carrier 4 minifigures, a tower carrier with a rotating gun turret with wheels, hidden catapult, control room, and more. Also get accessories like the Book of Fear, Globin discs, helmets and a hammer and wrench.

Playmobil NHL Hockey Arena Don’t you love this hockey play set? Each of the four NHL players feature a movable arm and hockey stick. Pull back the lever to swing the stick and fire the puck down the rink towards the opposing goal. Set includes four NHL players (two per team), three hockey pucks, game play rules booklet, player number decals, logo decals for all 30 NHL teams, score-keeping slide rule, and other accessories.

Pokémon Sun / Pokémon Moon All of you 9 year old Pokemon fans, you’ll want these newest (11/2016) Nintendo 3Ds games rated E for everyone.

BOSEBuild Speaker Cube This is such a cool STEM gift — a build-it-yourself Bluetooth speaker! Start with a basic magnet and coil and soon you’ll have built a durable, great-sounding Bluetooth speaker. An iOS app that both provides animated instructions.

Reading Headlamp I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, headlamps beat book lamps for reading hands down. Because they’re hands free AND have much better light! (All over the page light, not just in one spot.) Plus, how cool are you when you sit in bed with a headlamp?! These really motivate young readers.

PlayStation 4 This continues to be a hot gift idea for many, many kids, especially boys.

Happy Salmon Get moving with this totally fun, hilarious, fast-paced game. Call out the the actions shown on the card (such as high-five and pound it) and if you match with another player, you both do the action.

Ozobot Bit 2.0Winner of “Best Robot” at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show & 2014 International Toy Fair Hours. Drag & drop blocks of code with the free Ozobot Apps to play interactive games for every level.

Imaginext T-RexImaginext Ultra T-Rex that can take steps, make sounds, move his tail, and fire projectiles. Kids think these are the best toys ever.

Anki OverdriveThis is one of the hottest toys of the holiday season for kids. Build one of 8 unique battlefields, download the Anki OVERDRIVE app on a compatible iOS or Android device, and you’re off and racing. Each robotic Supercar can be customized with hundreds of virtual weapons, upgrades and special items.

ZOOB S.T.E.M. Challenge We LOVE Zoob, do you? This gives you 175 pieces for solving STEM challenges, such as hitting targets and making balls bounce, building a catapult, zip line, trampoline and more! Your 9-year olds will love this gift.

Butterfly GardenWe’ve done these several times and LOVE watching the metamorphosis!

The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry Hilarious. Of course. While on a class trip to Washington D.C., Wyatt and his best friend, Matt, are positive they’ve discovered a plot to blow up the White House. Wyatt’s crush, Suzanna, helps the friends make a plan, and as you can imagine, disaster and hilarity strike. I totally loved this book and know your kids (especially those who like humor) will as well.

Minecraft Stop Motion AnimationHow cool is this? Use a free mobile app to make your own movies. Includes 1 movie stage, 6 different backgrounds, 3 exclusive mini-figures, a device holder, and over 18 other accessories. Great for Minecraft enthusiasts.

Bounce OffWe laugh through this entire game — it’s a blast! Set up on any flat surface then race to recreate the pattern on the challenge card by bouncing balls into the grid. It’s harder than it looks! The first color to complete the pattern wins the card. Earn 3 cards to win the game.

Brave Rats Both players have a hand of eight cards, numbered 0 to 7, with each character on the card possessing a special power. In a calculated duel, both players reveal a card. The victory goes to the higher number, unless the special power overrules. The first player to win four rounds claims the kingdom for their clan. A 2 player strategy card game that is great for 9 year old boys.

Top Secret Lock & Key Diary What young 9 year old boy wouldn’t want to write or draw in this top secret locking notebook of 200 colorful lined pages?

Lulu Jr. My Comic Book Get your 9 year old boys writing! They can illustrate the 18 ready-to-use book pages with the provided pencil and artist eraser, outline pen, and markers. Mail in a postage-paid envelope and a few weeks later, you’ll receive your professionally printed comic book! Winner of the 2013 Academic’s Choice Brain Toy Award.